More Kashmiri girls join schools

More girls are going to schools in the Reyasi district of Jammu and Kashmir after an ebb in the two-decade-long insurgency in the state.

Along with decline in rebel violence, militant diktats such as imposing a ban on cinema and threatening girls who were seen wearing skirts or without burqas or headscarves, have also faded away.

"Many girls had left their education due to the fear of militancy but as the security forces have been deployed in the region and the number of pickets have increased, the girls can go to the schools without any fear and many have resumed their education," said Shazia, a girl student.

Officials say violence between Indian troops and separatist militants started a steady decline in 2004 after India and Pakistan started a slow-moving peace process.

"It was obvious that since the security situation deteriorated, the people working in the schools couldn't do so freely due to fear of militants. Due to this, we have suffered and the enrolment of girls in schools also went down drastically, but fortunately the security situation has improved in Reyasi district. And once again the girls are enrolling in schools," said Abdul Ghani Malik, state Minister for Higher Education.